My Visit To Pro Wrestling World - Allentown, PA
Aug 10, 2013 21:40:56 GMT -5
naparo01, JHTB®, and 3 more like this
Post by Flair Forever on Aug 10, 2013 21:40:56 GMT -5
Hello all,
Not entirely sure which forum this belongs in - so I'll respect any decisions the actual MODS make to move it. If you disagree - take it up with them in the form of a PM.... but I went to this place in search of Mattel figures. What I found there.... was a little bit of that - and so much more!
I've been going to the Allentown area for years - my wife's parents live near there. Had no idea there was a little place just outside of Allentown called "Merchant's Square Mall." I'd heard about the place a few times, but never quite realized how close it was to where they live. I'm wondering how they ever kept this place a secret from me? They know I love wrestling... Today I decided I was going to find this place and see what the heck is going on there....
From the outside - it doesn't look like much. Kind of dingy, with some old people milling around here and there.... I would never have driven past this and thought I needed to go inside....
Inside - I was surprised to see several stands loaded with "vintage" stuff.... it felt like I had stepped back into the late 80's.... except for one thing - every toy I ever wanted - but didn't have - was sitting inside this place.
What's this? A Sega Genesis? SNES & Atari games, still inside the boxes?
Do these things still exist? Yes, they do... at Merchant's Square Mall....
Have I stepped into some kind of bizarre time warp? They had M.A.S.K. stuff, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Simpsons, Roger Rabbit, McDonald's toys, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Original Smurfs, Spider Man, Super Mario... I pretty much didn't see anything in this store that I didn't want at some point in my 35 year life...
That's all great nostalgia - but I'm here for the wrestling stuff. Enough walking down memory lane - let's get to the figures.... here's Pro Wrestling World....
Before you actually go into the store - the hallways are PACKED with wrestling memorabilia. This stuff isn't for sale - it's from the guy's private collection. And it is THE MOST INCREDIBLE private collection of Wrestling History I've ever seen in my life - I dare say a better spread than WWE AXXESS, which I had the privilege to attend earlier this year. At least - this is more of the kind of stuff I expected to find at AXXESS, and there was some - but this is a collection not-to-be-missed.
For your enjoyment - here is the Pro Wrestling World museum, in pictures....
Actual autographed stuff from Carlito and Hillbilly Jim.... eh, that's okay....
More stuff, worn & signed by Big Josh himself. May Matt Borne Rest In Piece...
Now we're talking - actual Michigan jacket signed by Steiner Bros.... that's cool...
Jimmy Hart's stuff, and The Godfather.... I can dig that...
Hey! Did you ever wonder what happened to Dusty's polka dots? I thought he probably threw them in the trash - well if he did, then this guy dug them back out and hung them on his wall. GREAT STUFF!
WHOAH! Hold the phone... a bunch of Horsemen stuff, including an NWA replica belt - signed by the guys... now that's awesome.
No, we didn't forget about you ECW fans..... here's some vintage stuff you'll recognize...
How about Gangrel? Do you think he still wears that cool shirt? I doubt it - it's hanging on this guy's wall...
I checked my watch... I noticed that it's time.... it's time.... it's.... VADER TIME!
I really paused at this next display. Actual attire worn and signed by Sting himself. I just kept thinking, I remember seeing him wrestle in those green tights! This is really cool... I spent a lot of time at this display... HOW THE HECK DID HE GET THESE?
Doesn't everybody just have Bruno Sammartino's old stuff just lying around in their collections? This guy does...
Hehe... I got a chuckle out of this.... obviously this guy is a wrestling fan - in the truest sense of the word.
So I'm getting worn out from all this stuff... and we're not done! Here's Rikishi's stuff....
And Bret Hart... is that a box of Hitman Cereal I spy?
And Ricky Steamboat.......... you have to wonder - are those the white boots he wore when he wrestled Flair?
Cactus Jack himelf....
Diesel....
Iron Sheik....
Some random Hogan stuff....
And more....
I have a new respect for Demolition... how the heck do you put these things on?
And finally - an urn, signed by Paul Bearer himself. Wow. I can't believe they have something like this....
WHOAH... I've been in the place like two hours, and not even gotten to the wrestling figures yet. OMG.... I was about out of breath at this point from being blown away by display-after-display. When I go to things like this - I generally get like a little kid who's had too much sugar - running around, pointing, snapping photo-after-photo.... probably hyper-ventilating...
Okay, calm down... it's time to shop.... here's the inside of the shop....
Actually - there are several shops. EVERY shop in this place seems to have SOME kind of pro wrestling stuff. There was even one shop that seemed to specialize in 1940's kitchen-ware - and they had a signed Bret Hart poster in the back corner. These pics are compiled from several shops inside this mall... I kind of forget which shops I took each photo in.
Wow... Today, August 10th, 2013 marks the first time I've ever seen The Berserker JAKKS Classic for sale - in person. I looked for this thing for a long time..... now, I don't really want it that much. At least - not for the HIGH price this guy wanted for it...
Feel like digging? Have three hours to spend? This is your section...
Hmmm... there are some Mattels... but the prices seem kind of high...
So - overall, here is the scoop on this place. If you like JAKKS and are trying to collect them currently - do not hesitate to book a flight to Allentown, PA immediately and ravage this place - they've got just about every JAKKS Classic Superstar - at perhaps slightly inflated prices (usually 20-80 dollars each for carded). Loose ones will run anywhere from 5-20 dollars.
As for Mattel - if you're looking to pay Scalper-prices (which I suspect these people are) then by all means, have at it. The guy was trying to convince me to buy a carded Basic 30 AJ Lee for 35 bucks - I told him I'd hold out hope that I'll find one at retail for $9.99 (I don't really want one that bad). He then whispered to me that he's currently getting $60 for "Lisa Mendes." He also said it would be cheaper in a month when the demand for it dies down. Huh.
As for the various shops in the mall that sell figures - the loose figure collections are fairly vast - and Mattel stuff is mixed in with GOBS of JAKKS stuff, so you need to spend time looking through piles of figures to find Mattel stuff. Many of the JAKKS loose figures are in marginal condition - and once you find some quality Mattel stuff, it's usually a bit more than you want to pay for it - however every shop I went into told me that the more stuff you buy - the more stuff they throw in and make it worth your while.
There are tons of other items - older JAKKS stuff, Toy Biz, Marvel, etc, and lots of old magazines, and wrestling treasures - PPV chairs, replica belts... and the museum is EPIC - a must-visit for any wrestling fan in this area - and no charge to see the memorabilia. My only complaint would be that the prices are a little high - you can do much better online for MOST of the items sold in this place.
I honestly could have spent another 4 hours in this place - I don't think I got the full idea of what's actually there in the three+ hours we spent in Merchant's Square Mall.
So what did I actually buy? Surprisingly little... I decided to let my brain digest everything I'd seen today and I'll go back in a few weeks (I believe they're having a Jake "The Snake" Roberts autograph signing) and buy some more once I've decided what I actually need/want. My personal collection is currently growing larger than the space I have to keep it in - and I'm becoming increasingly selective about what I decide to cart home.
However - I couldn't leave this place without buying SOMETHING.... so here are my purchases....
$15 for a loose Stone Cold Elite WM27 BOPPV.... I've wanted this bad boy for quite a while and this was too good to pass up. In new condition.... I thought I'd put the shirt on a CM Punk - but the more I look this over, I really like it the way it is...
This MARVEL Sting, loose - seems to be in new condition. Yea, I know he didn't come with this belt - but they had it on him and I think it looks pretty cool. I may just leave it on him...
This MARVEL Hulk Hogan - pretty beat up. The guy was trying to sell it as a lot - but I had no interest in the crayon-colored JAKKS John Morrison & other crap he was tying it to - I offered him five bucks for this and he took me up on it. I don't have it, so it'll fit in well on my Hogan shelf.
And this WWE RAW Magazine featuring Hogan & nWo... eh, why not. I may frame the cover (I collect Hogan covers).
Also picked up some WCW Nitro trading cards at a buck a pack... I'll open them later and see what I got.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon! If you do venture here - I suggest lunch at the "Tilted Kilt" right up the road - it's kind of like Hooters, except the hot waitresses all wear kilts...
Thanks for reading!
Not entirely sure which forum this belongs in - so I'll respect any decisions the actual MODS make to move it. If you disagree - take it up with them in the form of a PM.... but I went to this place in search of Mattel figures. What I found there.... was a little bit of that - and so much more!
I've been going to the Allentown area for years - my wife's parents live near there. Had no idea there was a little place just outside of Allentown called "Merchant's Square Mall." I'd heard about the place a few times, but never quite realized how close it was to where they live. I'm wondering how they ever kept this place a secret from me? They know I love wrestling... Today I decided I was going to find this place and see what the heck is going on there....
From the outside - it doesn't look like much. Kind of dingy, with some old people milling around here and there.... I would never have driven past this and thought I needed to go inside....
Inside - I was surprised to see several stands loaded with "vintage" stuff.... it felt like I had stepped back into the late 80's.... except for one thing - every toy I ever wanted - but didn't have - was sitting inside this place.
What's this? A Sega Genesis? SNES & Atari games, still inside the boxes?
Do these things still exist? Yes, they do... at Merchant's Square Mall....
Have I stepped into some kind of bizarre time warp? They had M.A.S.K. stuff, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Simpsons, Roger Rabbit, McDonald's toys, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Original Smurfs, Spider Man, Super Mario... I pretty much didn't see anything in this store that I didn't want at some point in my 35 year life...
That's all great nostalgia - but I'm here for the wrestling stuff. Enough walking down memory lane - let's get to the figures.... here's Pro Wrestling World....
Before you actually go into the store - the hallways are PACKED with wrestling memorabilia. This stuff isn't for sale - it's from the guy's private collection. And it is THE MOST INCREDIBLE private collection of Wrestling History I've ever seen in my life - I dare say a better spread than WWE AXXESS, which I had the privilege to attend earlier this year. At least - this is more of the kind of stuff I expected to find at AXXESS, and there was some - but this is a collection not-to-be-missed.
For your enjoyment - here is the Pro Wrestling World museum, in pictures....
Actual autographed stuff from Carlito and Hillbilly Jim.... eh, that's okay....
More stuff, worn & signed by Big Josh himself. May Matt Borne Rest In Piece...
Now we're talking - actual Michigan jacket signed by Steiner Bros.... that's cool...
Jimmy Hart's stuff, and The Godfather.... I can dig that...
Hey! Did you ever wonder what happened to Dusty's polka dots? I thought he probably threw them in the trash - well if he did, then this guy dug them back out and hung them on his wall. GREAT STUFF!
WHOAH! Hold the phone... a bunch of Horsemen stuff, including an NWA replica belt - signed by the guys... now that's awesome.
No, we didn't forget about you ECW fans..... here's some vintage stuff you'll recognize...
How about Gangrel? Do you think he still wears that cool shirt? I doubt it - it's hanging on this guy's wall...
I checked my watch... I noticed that it's time.... it's time.... it's.... VADER TIME!
I really paused at this next display. Actual attire worn and signed by Sting himself. I just kept thinking, I remember seeing him wrestle in those green tights! This is really cool... I spent a lot of time at this display... HOW THE HECK DID HE GET THESE?
Doesn't everybody just have Bruno Sammartino's old stuff just lying around in their collections? This guy does...
Hehe... I got a chuckle out of this.... obviously this guy is a wrestling fan - in the truest sense of the word.
So I'm getting worn out from all this stuff... and we're not done! Here's Rikishi's stuff....
And Bret Hart... is that a box of Hitman Cereal I spy?
And Ricky Steamboat.......... you have to wonder - are those the white boots he wore when he wrestled Flair?
Cactus Jack himelf....
Diesel....
Iron Sheik....
Some random Hogan stuff....
And more....
I have a new respect for Demolition... how the heck do you put these things on?
And finally - an urn, signed by Paul Bearer himself. Wow. I can't believe they have something like this....
WHOAH... I've been in the place like two hours, and not even gotten to the wrestling figures yet. OMG.... I was about out of breath at this point from being blown away by display-after-display. When I go to things like this - I generally get like a little kid who's had too much sugar - running around, pointing, snapping photo-after-photo.... probably hyper-ventilating...
Okay, calm down... it's time to shop.... here's the inside of the shop....
Actually - there are several shops. EVERY shop in this place seems to have SOME kind of pro wrestling stuff. There was even one shop that seemed to specialize in 1940's kitchen-ware - and they had a signed Bret Hart poster in the back corner. These pics are compiled from several shops inside this mall... I kind of forget which shops I took each photo in.
Wow... Today, August 10th, 2013 marks the first time I've ever seen The Berserker JAKKS Classic for sale - in person. I looked for this thing for a long time..... now, I don't really want it that much. At least - not for the HIGH price this guy wanted for it...
Feel like digging? Have three hours to spend? This is your section...
Hmmm... there are some Mattels... but the prices seem kind of high...
So - overall, here is the scoop on this place. If you like JAKKS and are trying to collect them currently - do not hesitate to book a flight to Allentown, PA immediately and ravage this place - they've got just about every JAKKS Classic Superstar - at perhaps slightly inflated prices (usually 20-80 dollars each for carded). Loose ones will run anywhere from 5-20 dollars.
As for Mattel - if you're looking to pay Scalper-prices (which I suspect these people are) then by all means, have at it. The guy was trying to convince me to buy a carded Basic 30 AJ Lee for 35 bucks - I told him I'd hold out hope that I'll find one at retail for $9.99 (I don't really want one that bad). He then whispered to me that he's currently getting $60 for "Lisa Mendes." He also said it would be cheaper in a month when the demand for it dies down. Huh.
As for the various shops in the mall that sell figures - the loose figure collections are fairly vast - and Mattel stuff is mixed in with GOBS of JAKKS stuff, so you need to spend time looking through piles of figures to find Mattel stuff. Many of the JAKKS loose figures are in marginal condition - and once you find some quality Mattel stuff, it's usually a bit more than you want to pay for it - however every shop I went into told me that the more stuff you buy - the more stuff they throw in and make it worth your while.
There are tons of other items - older JAKKS stuff, Toy Biz, Marvel, etc, and lots of old magazines, and wrestling treasures - PPV chairs, replica belts... and the museum is EPIC - a must-visit for any wrestling fan in this area - and no charge to see the memorabilia. My only complaint would be that the prices are a little high - you can do much better online for MOST of the items sold in this place.
I honestly could have spent another 4 hours in this place - I don't think I got the full idea of what's actually there in the three+ hours we spent in Merchant's Square Mall.
So what did I actually buy? Surprisingly little... I decided to let my brain digest everything I'd seen today and I'll go back in a few weeks (I believe they're having a Jake "The Snake" Roberts autograph signing) and buy some more once I've decided what I actually need/want. My personal collection is currently growing larger than the space I have to keep it in - and I'm becoming increasingly selective about what I decide to cart home.
However - I couldn't leave this place without buying SOMETHING.... so here are my purchases....
$15 for a loose Stone Cold Elite WM27 BOPPV.... I've wanted this bad boy for quite a while and this was too good to pass up. In new condition.... I thought I'd put the shirt on a CM Punk - but the more I look this over, I really like it the way it is...
This MARVEL Sting, loose - seems to be in new condition. Yea, I know he didn't come with this belt - but they had it on him and I think it looks pretty cool. I may just leave it on him...
This MARVEL Hulk Hogan - pretty beat up. The guy was trying to sell it as a lot - but I had no interest in the crayon-colored JAKKS John Morrison & other crap he was tying it to - I offered him five bucks for this and he took me up on it. I don't have it, so it'll fit in well on my Hogan shelf.
And this WWE RAW Magazine featuring Hogan & nWo... eh, why not. I may frame the cover (I collect Hogan covers).
Also picked up some WCW Nitro trading cards at a buck a pack... I'll open them later and see what I got.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon! If you do venture here - I suggest lunch at the "Tilted Kilt" right up the road - it's kind of like Hooters, except the hot waitresses all wear kilts...
Thanks for reading!
Great stuff! I love this thread!
